A Softer Approach to Trade

Published September 12, 2018

China’s leaders appear to be taking a softer approach to trade dropping earlier threats of retaliation as Beijing changes its tact to keep the trade fight with Washington from scaring off foreign investors. Beijing is reaching out to American companies in an effort to secure foreign investment in China with officials set to meet with Wall Street executives and Exxon Mobil Corp. While not abandoning its retaliatory tariffs, Chinese officials and government advisors appear to be concerned the trade battle could severely impact its economy by reducing investments seen as critical to China’s future.